September 26, 2022

A Letter to Arizona Candidates

We’re calling on the candidates running for Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction to prioritize education by offering solutions to the education issues that matter most to us, our students, and our state.

We want candidates to discuss and share solutions that address these priorities that will have the greatest impact on Arizona students:

  • Ensuring every Arizona public school classroom has a qualified teacher
  • Helping students learn key subjects, like math and reading
  • Raising teacher pay and increasing public school funding
  • Increasing more opportunities for Career and Technical Education

Add your signature here.

This open letter is signed by:

JoEtta Gonzales, Casa Grande

Michelle McGinty, Phoenix

Eric Chalmers, Phoenix

Erik Matson, Tempe

John Matson, Tempe

Christine Epper, Chandler

Julie Wilson, Tempe

Marisol Canchola, Tempe

Heather Schlemmer, Tempe

Mitzi Epstein, Tempe

Betty Bankston, Tucson

Citlalli Celis, Phoenix

Cheryl Allen, Scottsdale

Teresa Minnick, Phoenix

John Hecker, Chandler

Darren Ridge, Chandler

Tennille Penaloza-Hagen, Scottsdale

Scott Murray, Tempe

Colleen Ridge, Mesa

Marin Ridge, Mesa

Ryan Lanley, Mesa

Jaclyn Hoerner, Chandler

Karen Davis, Glendale

Matthew Sotelo, Phoenix

Deborah Carstens, Paradise Valley

Dr. Lino, Queen Creek

Heather Marcy, Flagstaff

Zulema Fragoso, Rio Rico

Jacob Dang, Tempe

Virginia Watahomigie, Flagstaff

Cheryl Mango-Paget, Flagstaff

Steven Finger, Flagstaff

Carol Maas, Sun Lakes

Christine Chisholm, Flagstaff

Jane Roberts, Tucson

Barbara Tellman, Tucson

Heather McAuley, Tucson

Lisa Platt, Phoenix

Ann McGowan, Tucson

Monica Barajas

Kristina Sabetta, Gilbert

Jennifer Waters, Tempe

David Grubbs, Phoenix

David Gordon, Peoria

Ed Twardy, Carefree

Patricia Lutes, Scottsdale

Diana Stagg, Fountain Hills

Rich Nickel, Phoenix

Phil Witte, Phoenix

John Meunier, Paradise Valley

Ada Cillis, Waddell

Kelli Warble, Tempe

Pamela Johnson, Wickenburg

Bruce Alvers, Gilbert

Marcie Hutchinson, Mesa

Salie Travis, Glendale

Rivko Knox, Phoenix,

Barbara Carpenter, Scottsdale

Nancy Martin, Surprise

Ramona Lore, San Luis

Dianne Post, Phoenix

Kathleen Dubbs, Tucson

Marilyn Coyle, Queen Creek

Sarah Smallhouse, Tucson

Ed. Zaharis, Mesa

Nancy Smith, Tucson

Anne Hart, Flagstaff

Nicholas Prestera, Scottsdale

Brian Jones, Tucson

Jeanette Hall, Tempe

Vivian Perry, Humboldt

Marc Riske, Mesa

Terri Farneti, Prescott

Cynthia Riley, Gilbert

Janeen Butler, Chandler

Elizabeth Paulus, Mesa

William Ross, Phoenix

Mary McKown, Phoenix

Vanessa Garcia, Tucson

Paul Tighe, Litchfield Park

Symone Hunter, Phoenix

Ralene Snell, Claypool

Elizabeth Elgin, Flagstaff

Barb Swerdfeger, Carefree

Flint Swerdfeger, Peoria

Jacquelyn Larios, Peoria

Marshall Swerdfeger, Peoria

Karen Stout, Phoenix

Paul Roetto, Tonopah

Micah Akers, Chandler

Anthony Pérez, Youngtown

Christine Thiele, Scottsdale

Kelly Alden, Glendale

Sarah Carter, Willcox

Rachael Barkley, Yuma

Mary Warren, Tempe

Meredith Brigulio, Phoenix

Kathleen Cavanagh, Scottsdale

Kathy Leonard, Sahuarita

Kimberly Tobey, Peoria

Trudy Miller, Cave Creek

Miranda Baldosky

Demetry Simonton, Sierra Vista

Alex Ochoa, Vail

Elisa Molina, Tucson

Hector Verdugo, Tucson

Gabriela Verdugo, Tucson

Lupita Gutierrez, Tucson

Lorena Verdugo, Tucson

Nathan Darus, Douglas

Kathy Armenta, Tucson

Gabriel Orta, Tucson

Elizabeth Bartels, Glendale

Reed Mencken, Patagonia

Barbara McMasters, Lakeside

Rene RedDay, Flagstaff

Jenny Tetreault, Phoenix

Christine Fourman, Littlefield

Mailu Long, Cave Creek

Myrna Cardenas, Glendale

Julie Johnson, Scottsdale

Kathy Rael, Florence

Gregory Brockway, Phoenix

Ellen Anderson, Prescott

Bob Haas, Sun City

Beth Nickel, Phoenix

Jacqueline Tatum, Gilbert

Nancy Crawley, Gilbert

Suzanne Odea, Scottsdale

Katherine Ames, Phoenix

Mary Biermeier, New River

Melinda McNeilus, Tucson

Eboney McKinney, Mesa

Francisco Urquidez, Tucson

Kathy Orta, Tucson

Heidi Martinez, Tucson

Karen McClelland, Sedona

Jennifer Rogers, Phoenix

Cynthia Smith, Mesa

Belinda Escalante, Phoenix

Molly Smith, Glendale

Rita Rodrigue, Mesa

Jackson Ridge, Mesa

Ashlyn Patterson, Mesa

Paul Patterson, Mesa

Jakob Richardson, Tempe

Joshua Richardson, Mesa

David Richardson, Tempe

Stefanie Richardson, Tempe

Stephanie Hammond, Flagstaff

Amy Gill, Yuma

Mary Clements, Tucson

Eileen Mothershead, Mesa

Clark Tenney, Prescott

Kelli List, Peoria

Mike Senate, Chino Valley

Hugh Meier, Prescott

Deb Dillon, Prescott

Whitney Williams, Prescott

Cathleen Cherry, Prescott

Laura Briggs, Skull Valley

Julia Watson, Prescott

Kathleen Frye, Mesa

Paula Warner, Gilbert

Jessie Mckinnon, Cottonwood

Debbie Leblanc, Tucson

Laura Porfirio, Tucson

Lynda Hanna, Tucson

Christina Mollica, Surprise

Jennifer Eckstrom, Tucson

Mark Hanna, Tucson

Cynthia Smith, Mesa

Kelsey Wolf-Donnay, Tempe

Margaret Baca, Casa Grande

Dan Knak, Gilbert

Ezequias Fuentes, Tempe

Stephanie Sivak, Flagstaff

Annette Avery, Flagstaff

Natalie Barrios, Winslow

Patricia Roach, Flagstaff

Julianne Hartzell, Flagstaff

Crystal Carter, Peoria

David Hannon, Casa Grande

Cecilia Swenson, Phoenix

Winifred Keefer, Tucson

Jeri Stallings, Tucson

Andrew Tuttle, Prescott

Karen Copley, Green Valley

Elizabeth Freer, Scottsdale

Donna Javinett, Scottsdale

Phyllis Kroeger, Phoenix

Yvonne Parent, Flagstaff

Cynthia Brown, Phoenix

Gabe Leadley, Phoenix

Laurie Flambouras, Scottsdale

Patricia Vroom, Phoenix

Elizabeth Wick, Tucson

Teagan Bradley, Surprise

Dawn O’Connel, Globe

Craig Beckman, Phoenix

Julie Patrick, Tucson

David Richter, Arizona City

Susan Ory, Phoenix

Barbara Faler, Goodyear

John Fees, Phoenix

Jim Schuessler, Yuma

Mary Lepkowski, Glendale

Melissa Ewing, Peoria

Jo Kontzer, Sedona

Kimberly Rimbey, Phoenix

Allison Landy, Heber-Overgaard

Laura Klass, Tucson

Yvette Lanz, Tucson

Cindy Townsend, Tucson

Laura Hoffman, Scottsdale

Kathryn Uster, Lake Havasu City

Elinor Schottstaedt, Scottsdale

Rebecca Gau, Mesa

Evelyn Casuga, Casa Grande

Thomas Coniam, Surprise

Violeta Ramos, Phoenix

Ryan Martin, Surprise

Gloria Dean, Wenden

Laura Ritzman, Scottsdale

Kim Vanos, Avondale

George Flores, Phoenix

Joseph Sprietsma, Benson

Steve Wheeler, Paradise Valley

Sandra Creta, Avondale

Ruben Saenz, Chandler

Thomas Hartley, Scottsdale

Sharon Briggs, Phoenix

Edmund Zito, Paradise Valley

Margaret Danford, Phoenix

Pat Mezey, Flagstaff

Lindsay Smith, Fountain Hills

Corey Triassi, Lake Havasu City

Melissa Placencia, Gilbert

Michelle Burke, Lake Havasu City

Ellen Anderson, Sun City

Eric Aurand, Lake Havasu City

Sandra Robbins, Lake Havasu City

Angi Manzutto, Phoenix

Andrew Paschall, Phoenix

Selena Llamas, Tucson

Mary Mezey, Tempe

Todd Bankofier, Scottsdale

Sisko Stargazer, Yuma

Kassondra Silva, Tucson

Jill Humpherys, Gilbert

Liz Salazar, Gilbert

Lisa Runburg, Phoenix

Robert Guignard, Tempe

Maria Garcia, Tucson

Albert Magallanez, Winkelman

Liana Goldsboro, Yuma

Aja Dezeeuw, Superior

Patricia Marsh, Peoria

Joanne Hilde, Prescott

Rosemary Agneessens, Prescott

Matt Owsley, Peoria

Tania Malven, Tucson

Sophie Allen-Etchart, Phoenix

Greg Peterson, Chandler

Lenore Barrientos, Mesa

Cynthia Cohen, Scottsdale

Colin Mattson, Chandler

Michelle Powers, Flagstaff

Marilynn Babyar, Glendale

Graciela Nobles, Phoenix

Holly Baird, Peoria

Mary Lyons, Tucson

Robert Pauley, Flagstaff

Richard Condit, Glendale

Lori Stinson, Mesa

Lauren Miller, Phoenix

Janine Menard, Goodyear

Gail Malay, Lake Havasu City

Teena Olszewski, Phoenix

Rhesa Olsen, Tucson

Dana Webb, Phoenix

Maria Hart-Salinas, Tucson

Marissa Ziering, Scottsdale

Diana Figueroa, Phoenix

Stephanie Capps, Phoenix

Donna Davis, Litchfield Park

Laura Rosensweet, Flagstaff

Laura Levandowski, Flagstaff

Emily Richardson, Tempe

Megan Dales, Flagstaff

Penny Taylor, Phoenix

Joanne Lutzow, Phoenix

Mary Garrone, Tucson

Harriet Sandberg, Glendale

Erin Hart, Phoenix

Erin Eccleston, Phoenix

Laura Ory, Phoenix

Tracey Beal, Phoenix

Edith Hernandez, Tucson

Tom Benson, Prescott


As a 501(c)3 organization, Education Forward Arizona does not endorse candidates or influence the outcome of candidate elections.